Oprah Winfrey at 2025 Oscars. Photo:
Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty
Oprah Winfrey is keeping it classy at the Academy Awards.
The actress and talk show host showed up on March 2 at the 2025 Oscars looking radiant in a menswear-inspired look for her presenting duties. Though she skipped the red carpet, she arrived on stage in a black and white look that was a sparkly gown on bottom with a tuxedo jacket on top with a white shirt and built-in tie.
Alongside Whoopi Goldberg, Winfrey, 71, presented Queen Latifah’s performance during the show.
Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey at 2025 Oscars. Rich Polk/Penske Media via Getty
Other presenters include Emilia Pérez star Selena Gomez, The Brutalist‘s Joe Alwyn, Nosferatu‘s Lily-Rose Depp and Willem Dafoe and Gladiator II‘s Connie Nielsen.
The talk show host was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of Sofia in The Color Purple in 1985. Other former nominees presenting this evening include Sterling K. Brown and Ana de Armas.
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Oprah Winfrey attends the premiere of Netflix’s “The Six Triple Eight”. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty
The last time Winfrey appeared at the Oscars was in 2015. She walked the red carpet in a blush-hued long-sleeved gown by Vera Wang. The silk gown had a plunging neckline and cinched at the waist. It also featured three-quarter-length sleeves and a flowy skirt that floated around her on the red carpet. Winfrey paired the ensemble with a sophisticated, sparkling bracelet and earrings, adding some flair.
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Oprah Winfrey attends the 87th Annual Academy Awards. Jason Merritt/Getty
Though she skipped the Oscars last year while her movie The Color Purple (which she co-produced) was on the awards season circuit, she did walk several red carpets — wearing purple, of course. She stepped out for the Golden Globes in January wearing a bold custom Louis Vuitton purple dress and matching shoes.
Speaking with Extra, Oprah said the gown took “600 hours” to make.
“Three women . . . It’s like a work of art,” she said. “I am gonna hate to take it off, I’m gonna need three people to take it off.”
Winfrey was in attendance to support the film (Fantasia Barrino, who played Celie, was nominated for best performance by a female actor in a motion picture – musical or comedy while Danielle Brooks, who played Sofia, was nominated for best performance by a female actor in a supporting role in any motion picture) as well as to present.
Oprah Winfrey at 2024 Golden Globes. Amy Sussman/Getty
During the press tour for The Color Purple, Winfrey wore mostly purple looks. At the time, she told PEOPLE, “I’m doing for the purple what Barbie did for the pink, okay.”
Another fun purple moment? Her black blazer dress with purple accents at the 2024 GLAAD Media Awards, where she was honored. The long dress featured purple lapels and purple buttons, and she wore her hair in a chic curled style, adding a pair of glittering statement earrings to the glam look for the ceremony.
Oprah Winfrey at 2024 GLAAD Media Awards. Michael Kovac/Getty
In her speech, Winfrey commented on it being such a “special honor” to receive the Vanguard Award for “being an ally,” insisting she was speaking in front of the “best room ever.”
See PEOPLE’s full coverage of the 97th annual Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien and airing on ABC.
